Hedge-trimmer



D. W. BURROUGHS.

Hedge Trimmer. No. 231,396. Patented Aug. 24,1880,

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

DAVID W. BURROUGHS, OF GREENFIELD, ILLINOIS.

HEDGE-TRIMMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,396, dated August 24, 1880.

Application filed November 29, 1879.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID W. BUEnoUeHs, of Greenfield, Greene county, Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hed ,ge-Trimmers 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and correct description ofthe same, reference being had t0 the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side view of my improved hedge-trimmer. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detached view, showing the adjustable plate for setting the axle of the front wheel more or less obliquely, as desired. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the post that supports the cutter-bar and gearing.

One object of my invention is to make a hedge-trimmer to run on a narrow embankment where horses cannot be used, and another is to increase the efficiency of the knives and guards.

My invention consists in a novel construction and combination of parts, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

My improved hedge-trimmer is mounted on two wheels, A B, and a simple frame, G, having a post, D, upon which the finger-beam E is vertically adjustable by means of a set-screw, F. This post has a slot for the set-screw and is braced and strengthened by a clamping cap or plate, Gr.

The axle H ofthe front wheel is set obliquely to the line of travel, in order to resist the side sway of the cutters andiinger-bar in working.

Ihe inclination of the axle may be increased or diminished by means of the adjustable plate I, as represented in Fig. 4.

In order to give motion to the cutter, I employ the two beveled-gear wheels K and L and the crank M, or other means of applying power, and also the usual balance-wheel N, with crank-pin O and connecting-rod P, attached to the cutter-bar, as shown in Fig. 2.

'lhe ngers or cutter-guards R are made broader in front, in order to prevent the hedge from slipping out, and thus escaping the stroke of the cutters or knives; and by closing these guards on the upper side of the knives and attaching them to the finger-beam E they are made strong and well adapted to the work of trimming hedges.

It may be noticed in Fig. 2 that the hedge is caught by the acute angle of the fingers or guards, and cannot slip before the stroke of the cutters.

The arrangement of one wheel before the other, like the improved velocipedes or bicycles, adapts my hedge-trimmer to running on narrow embankments, where other hedgetrimmers cannot stand.

It is obvious that a very short axle, either in front or rear, might be used with two wheels thereon; but I prefer asingle wheel for many reasons.

I am aware that a mower having the driving shaft and wheel and -also the finger-bar inclined forward from a right angle, for the purpose of obviating side draft produced by the caster or grain wheel being so far from the center of draft of the cutter-bar, is old, and such I distinctly disclaim as ot' my invention.

Having described my hedge-trimmer, what I claim is- In a hedge-trimmer mounted on two wheels, one in front and the other in rear thereof, for the purpose of running on embankments, the combination, with the supporting-frame and a reciprocating cutter-bar arranged above the axes of said wheels and at right angles to said frame, of the wheel A, mounted on an axle arranged obliquely to the supporting-frame, and the slotted adjustable plate I, in which one end of the axle is journaled, provided with set-screws to secure it in position, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

The above specification of my said invention signed and witnessed at Greenfield this 11th day of November, A. D. 1879.

DAVID W. BURROUGHS.

Witnesses:

M. A. RINHED, C. B. POWELL. 

